Zola scarred by West Ham axe but Chelsea legend eyes return to management in England

Gianfranco Zola has admitted he still so scarred by his experience at West Ham last season and on Sunday by the sacking of his friend Roberto Di Matteo as West Brom manager that he will seek assurances of no boardroom interference before he agrees to a return to English football.

Zola was undermined when West Ham co-owner David Sullivan told the world that the entire first team squad was up for sale apart from Scott Parker.

After being sacked at the end of last season, he has watched on as his successor Avram Grant has struggled to work under similarly trying conditions at Upton Park.

When it rains, it pours: Zola admits he is still scarred by his dismissal at West Ham

Speaking at the Laureus Sports Awards in Abu Dhabi, Chelsea legend Zola said: 'I miss certain things about English football. I don't miss others, to be honest. West Ham was the beginning of a new career for me.

'There were some really difficult times, which were very, very testing for me, but if you are willing to learn you get something out of it.

All smiles: Zola greets Manchester City star Patrick Vieira at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Abu Dhabi

'To be honest it’s becoming very difficult for every manager. I spoke to Roberto yesteday and I feel sorry for him because I think he’s done a very good job for West Brom. It’s sad.

'Football is becoming very emotional and when you are emotional, sometimes you don’t do the right things.

'In football, even if you've got a lot of money to spend, you can’t succeed in short term. You need to build things up. It’s about working with the players and establishing a mentality which takes time. That is something that everybody should remember.

'The manager has to be left alone because some decisions he takes are dictated by things that only he can see. So it is very difficult for an outsider to make the right decisions.

'If I come back to manage in the Premier League, I will make it clear beforehand that I want to be left to manage. There must be total trust between the club and the manager. Everything depends on that.

'The manager should get support from the club. And in turn he has to communicate with the club. It should be normal procedure.'